The value of Hong Kong’s total goods exports increased to $406.6 billion in June, up 33% on the same month last year, the Census & Statistics Department announced today.

The value of imports of goods increased 31.9% to $447.1 billion for the same period.

A trade deficit of $40.5 billion, or 9% of the value of imports, was recorded for the month.

Comparing the second quarter of 2021 with the first quarter on a seasonally adjusted basis, the value of exports dropped 1.9%, while that of imports rose 1.7%.

The Government said the value of merchandise exports continued to grow strongly in June over a year earlier.

Exports to the Mainland, the US and the European Union accelerated in growth, while those to other Asian markets also expanded by varying degrees.

The total merchandise trade value amounted to $4.7486 trillion for the first half of the year, surpassing the high in the same period in 2018 by 13%, it added.

Looking ahead, the improved external environment should continue to support Hong Kong’s export performance in the near term.

However, the recent surge of COVID-19 mutant infections in some major markets, China-US relations and geopolitical tensions still warrant attention, the Government noted.